Saunders Roe S.R.

45 Princess 1952
The Princess was a massive, pressurized, triple deck, 105 passenger flying boat powered by first
generation turboprop engines. Two Proteus’ geared together powered each of the four coaxial units,
a single Proteus / single rotation prop were installed on the two outboard stations. Either of the
paired Proteus could be declutched from the propeller unit. Three prototypes were constructed, but
only one flew. The flying prototype was retired after approx. 46 flights and 100 flight hours. All
aircraft were scrapped in 1967.
Wingspan: 219 feet 6 inches Weight (max): 345,025 lbs.
First flight: Aug. 22, 1952
Engines: 10 Proteus 600/610 turboprops; 3,320 HP + 1,200
lbs. jet thrust each engine
Propellers: de Havilland, 16.5 ft. diameter
Tupolev Tu-20 / -95 / -116 /-142 1952
The Tupolev series of NK-12 powered turboprop military aircraft have performed strategic bombing,
missile platform, and long range / maritime / ASW reconnaissance functions. The Tu-116 was a personnel
transport. Despite spinning at 750 to 850 rpm, the prop tips operate in the transonic range. The Tu-95
has achieved 575 mph at an altitude of 40,000 feet.
Wingspan: 167 feet 6 inches
Weight (max.): 370,000 to 390,00 lbs.
First flight: November 12, 1952 (Tu-
95). July 18, 1968 (Tu-142)
Engines: Four Kuznetsov NK-12 series
turboprops of 14,800 HP each
Props: AV-68 series: 18 feet 4 inches
to AV-90: 20 feet 4 inches in diameter
Kuznetsov NK-12 series turboshaft
14 stage compressor, 5 stage turbine
Pressure ratio: 9.5 to 13.1
Mass airflow: 142 lbs./sec
Horsepower: 14,800
Sfc: 0.36
Reduction Ratio: 0.094 (10.6 to 1)
Weight: 6,393 lbs. (dry)
 Convair XFY-1 Pogo 1954
Experimental turboprop-powered vertical take-off aircraft flown by James “Skeets” Coleman. Extensive
testing of T40 engines and props utilized pivoting Allison test stand and tethered flight training both in
the Moffett Field blimp hanger and outdoors at Brown Field. Difficulties in judging vertical rates of
descent complicated landing. Program terminated Aug. 1, 1956.
Wingspan: 22 feet 11 inches
Weight (takeoff): 16,250 lbs. (max.)
First flight: Tethered: April 14, 1954. Full
transition flight: Nov. 2, 1954
Engine: Allison T40/YT-40-A-14, 5,332 SHP +
1,296 lbs jet thrust
Props: Curtiss-Electric 16 foot diameter
Lockheed XFV-1 1954
The XFV-1 was Lockheed’s entry into the 1949 vertical takeoff proposal. Two prototypes were made,
only one flew, both survive today. The special engines dedicated to true vertical takeoff were
granted to the Convair XFY-1, so the XFV-1 used a makeshift landing gear to allow rolling horizontal
takeoff and landing. Hovering to 80° was achieved in some of the 32 flights and 23 total flight hours.
Wingspan: 27 feet , 4.7 inches
Weight (max): 16,221 lbs.
First flight: 1.5 mile hop: Dec. 23, 1953.
Official Flight #1: June 16, 1954
Engine: Allison T40/YT-40-A-14, 5,332 SHP +
1,296 lbs. jet thrust
Props: Curtiss-Electric 16 foot diameter
Curtiss Electric Contra-Rotating Turbopropeller

Allison
tilting
test cell at
Plant 2,
Indianapolis
Indiana

Pitch change motive

power is taken from
prop shaft via clutches
Tupolev Tu-91 1955
The Tu-91 was designed as a two man naval attack and torpedo bomber and only a single prototype
was built. Powered by a centrally-mounted turboprop engine via shafting to the propellers, elongated
landing gear and a nose-high attitude provided allow clearance for the propellers. Performance was
reported to be quite good, however the cancellation of Russian carriers and disdain by Khruschev
eliminated the need and support for the aircraft.
Wingspan: 53 feet 9.63 inches
Weight (max.): 31,746 lbs.
First flight: May 15, 1955
Engines: Isotov TV2M, 7,650 SHP
Props: approx. 14 feet 6 inches
Tupolev Tu-114 / Tu-126 1957 / 1962
The Tu-114 was a remarkable 120 to 220 seat, long range airliner utilizing the most powerful turboprop
engines available, then or now. It operated at jet-like speeds in the range of 540 mph. Thirty two
aircraft were built, placed into service in 1961 including international routes, and all were withdrawn by
1975. Some were remanufactured to military Airborne Early Warning use (Tu-126)
Wingspan: 167 feet 6 inches (Tu-114)
Weight (max.): 376,990 lbs.
First flight: Tu-114: Oct. 3, 1957
Tu-126: Jan. 23, 1962
Engines: Kuznetsov NK-12MV, 14,800 HP
Props: AV-68H of 18 feet 4 inches dia.
Hiller X-18 1959
The Hiller X-18 was a pure research aircraft combining the T40 engines and propeller sets from the
abandoned XFV-1 & XFY-1 programs, the fuselage of a transport glider (Chase C-122C), a new-
build tilting wing, and a small jet engine that was ducted to provide pitch in hover mode. At full
power, 45,000 lbs. of thrust could be generated to lift the aircraft vertically. It flew 13 flights,
mostly in airplane mode, with wing tilts up to 45°. Untethered hover flight, which would require
87° of wing tilt, was never attempted.
Wingspan: 42 feet
Weight (max): 33,000 lbs.
First flight: Nov. 24, 1959
Engine: Dual Allison YT-40-A-14 turboprops,
5,850 SHP + 1,295 jet thrust each +
Westinghouse J-34 (3,000 lbs. thrust) in fuselage
for vectored thrust
Props: Curtiss-Electric, 16 foot diameter
Antonov An-22 “Antei” 1965
Russian strategic heavy transport which set several range and payload records. Largest and heaviest
production aircraft until Lockheed C5A Galaxy. Sixty eight aircraft were produced.
Wingspan: 211 feet, 4 inches
Weight (max): 551,160 lbs.
First flight: February 27, 1965
Engine: Kuznetsov NK-12MA turboprops, 15,000 HP each
Props: AV-68 series, diameter approx. 18 feet
A-90 Orlyonok Ekranoplan 1972
Soviet wing-in-ground effect (WIG) transport was designed and built by the Central Hydrofoil
Research Bureau. The Orlyonok cruised on the NK-12@ 224 mph at the optimal 6 feet above the
surface and had retractable wheels for beaching. One prototype and 3 production aircraft were built,
began service in 1979, and all were retired in 1993.
Wingspan: 103 ft., 4 inches
Weight (takeoff): 308,647 lbs. (max)
First flight: 1972
Engines: Marine-ized Kuznetsov NK-12MK turboprop,
12,000 HP “cruise engine”; Two Kuznetsov NK-8-4
“booster” turbojets, approx. 23,148 lbs. thrust each.
Props: AV-90, 19 feet, 8 inches diameter
North American RB-51 “Red Baron” 1975
The airframe that became the RB-51 was a Reno Champion racer with Merlin power before the Griffon-
contra-prop transformation was completed in 1975. Flown by legendary air racing pilots, it took a few
years to refine the systems and aerodynamics. The RB-51 set the 3 kM world speed record for piston-
prop aircraft at 499.018 mph in 1979 and won Reno twice. A series of component failures at Reno in
1979 caused the props going flat, the drag stifling forward airspeed, resulting in a controlled crash into
the desert. Pilot Steve Hinton survived.
Wingspan: 32 feet, 3 inches
Weight (race): approx. 10,360 lbs
First flight: 1975
Engine: Rolls-Royce Griffon 59 + -74
wheelcase, V-2240, 3,800 HP, wet
Props: de Havilland, 10 foot 4 inch dia.
ParaPlane P-2 Powered Parachute 1983
Aeronautical engineer Steve Snyder, machinist Adrian Vandenberg, and small engine specialist
Daniel Thompson combined their expertise to make a series of prototype ParaPlane powered
parachutes starting in 1981. Controllability issues due to the engine/prop torque was corrected by
using contra-rotating propellers. Further development of the parachute and airframe components
eventually allowed the successful use of single rotation props and two-place aircraft.

First flight: P-1: 1981 P-2, P-3: 1983

Engines: Dual Chrysler or Solo 215 cu.
in, 2-stroke, 15 to 19 HP each with belt
drive

Sunflight Coax-P Gearbox for

use with single engine
North American P-51 “Precious Metal” 1988
Precious Metal is the second Griffon-powered P-51 hybrid, built in 1987/1988 by Don Whittington. It
has gone through several iterations of tail, coolant scoop / doghouse, prop, owner, and engine
modifications. A prop governor failure resulted in a belly landing at Reno in 1988, but the aircraft
returned to flight within 3 years. Best official speed on the Reno course was 452 mph.
Wingspan: 32 feet, 3 inches
Weight (race): approx. 10,400 lbs
First flight: Early 1988
Engine: Rolls-Royce Griffon 58 with -74
wheelcase, V-2240, approx. 3,600 HP, wet
Props: de Havilland. Fore prop: 10 foot 4 inch
diameter. Aft prop: 9 foot 8 inch diameter.

2011
Cozy MK IV YV-22X 1996
Four place Homebuilt aircraft constructed by engineer brothers Ruben and Carlos Leon of Valencia,
Venezuela and modified to dual engine / contra-prop configuration. One engine faces forward, the
other aft, each driving their own independent prop
through a 2:1, three-lane micro v-belt reduction drive.
Wingspan: 28 feet, 1 inch Weight (takeoff): 2,050 lbs.
First flight: Feb. 1, 1996
Engine: Two 1.6L Suzuki Swift 4 cylinder inline,
aluminum block, water cooled, engines, 100 HP each,
Props: WARP drive composite; ground adjustable
North American P-51R “Miss Ashley II” 1997
Bill Rogers combined a new-build fuselage and P-51H tail, Lear Jet 23 wing and horizontal stabilizer, custom
landing gear, and a Griffon V-12 to go racing. MAII displayed immaculate workmanship and continuing
aerodynamic improvements over 2.5 years. While racing at Reno in 1999, the tail failed, followed by the
wings, and co-owner/pilot Gary Levitz lost his life in the break up and crash.
Wingspan: 33 feet 6 inches
Weight (race): Approx. 9,600 lbs.
First flight: June 6, 1997
Engine: Rolls-Royce Griffon 58, V-2240, approx.
3,600 HP, wet + N2O
Props: de Havilland with Howard feathering
system, approx. 10.5 feet diameter
Note NACA duct
engine air and
radiator intakes
Rose RP-4 2006
This aircraft is being built by David Rose, La Jolla, CA, specifically for setting speed records. It is
powered by 2 mechanically supercharged V-8’s turning contra-rotating props with composite blades
of advanced design. The thin wing is extensively plumbed to allow surface cooling. The cockpit
location rivals the Gee Bee R1/R2 and in its current form, the RP-4 sprouts the smallest vertical
stabilizer of probably any high-horsepower contra-prop aircraft.
Wingspan: Estimated 25 feet
Weight (max): 5,600 lbs.
First flight: Unflown as of May 2012
Engines: Dual mechanically supercharged
V-8, stated as 5,000 HP
Propellers: NASA derived prop-fan
technology composite lay-ups, looks like
fixed pitch, approx. 58 inches in diameter
Contra-prop Testbeds

Tupolev Tu-4 with TV-2

Douglas B-23 with Hamilton
Standard Super Hydromatic

Lincoln SX793 with Napier Nomad I

Lancastrian VM704 with Griffon C-props inboard,

Merlin 100 series engines for Avro Tudor outboard

Yellow: Intake air Green: Fore prop drive

Purple: Exhaust Red: Aft prop drive Lancaster with Armstrong-Siddeley Pythons outboard
The Final Tally:

67+ designs

15 of 67 (22%) went into production (Shiun, P-75A Eagle, F.47 Seafire, Seafang, VB-10,
Shackleton, A2D, Tradewind , Wyvern, Gannet, Tu-114, Tu-126, Tu-95, An-22, A-90)

3 served in a shooting war:

Shiun -WWII Manufacturers of Contra-Rotating
Seafire F.47 – Malaya and Korea, 1950 Propeller Units
Wyvern - Suez Crisis, 1956
Aeroproducts (USA)
Still flying: AV (USSR)
Tu-95 Chauviere (France)
An-22? Curtiss-Electric (USA)
Precious Metal (modified P-51) de Havilland (UK)
F.47 Seafire Fairey (UK)
ParaPlane? Hamilton-Standard (USA)
Cozy Mk IV? Ratier (France)
Rotol (UK)
May eventually fly: Sumitomo (Japan)
Replica M.B.5, Rose RP-4, replica Bugatti R-100
 Many thanks to Kim McCutcheon, Bill Pearce,
Graham White, David Birch, John Leonard, Bruce
Vander Mark, the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust
Allison and Derby Branch, FlightGlobal.com,
aviation authors everywhere, the numerous
online contributors for their assistance in this
endeavor, and our distinguished AEHS member
audience
Propfans: Somebody want to tackle this for next year?

General
Electric GE36

Pratt & Whitney /

Allison 578-DX

Yak-42E-LL
with D-236

Progress D-27’s
on An-70
Incomplete Bibliography (May, 2012) Aeroproducts Technical Manuals:

R‐4360: Pratt & Whitney’s Major Miracle, Graham White, Specialty Press, 2006, AD7652 (NASM)
ISBN1‐5807‐097‐3
AD8664 FN‐47 (NASM)
R‐2800: Pratt & Whitney’s Dependable Masterpiece, Graham White, SAE, 2001,
ISBN 0‐7680‐0272‐9 AD8664 A1, A2 (RRHT‐Allison Branch)

Boeing XF8B‐1 Five in One Fighter, Naval Fighters #39, Rick Koehnen, 2005, ISBN 0‐ Griffon‐Powered Mustangs Vol. 1 by A. Kevin Grantham and Nicholas A. Veronico,
942612‐65‐5 Specialty Press, 2000, ISBN‐1‐58007‐034‐5

The Boeing XF8B‐1 Fighter: Last of the Line, Jared A. Zichek, Schiffer Military Press, Twin Cozy by Jack Cox, EAA Sport Aviation, May, 1998, page 32
2007, ISBN 0‐ 7643‐2587‐6
Gannet, Simon Akins, AD Hoc Publications, 2008, ISBN 0‐946958‐63‐4
Curtiss XBTC‐2 Eggbeater, Naval Fighters #77, Bob Kowalski, 2007, ISBN 0‐942612‐
Sturgeon‐Target Tug Extraordinaire, Tony Butler, AD Hoc Publications, 2009, ISBN
77‐9
0‐946958‐77‐41
Convair XPY‐1 & R3Y‐1/2 Tradewind, Naval Fighters #34, Steve Ginter, 1996, ISBN
Wyvern, Michael Doust, AD Hoc Publications, 2006, ISBN 0‐946958‐53‐X
0‐942612‐34‐5
Pilots Notes, Shackleton MK.3, Phase 3, A.P.4267E‐P.N., AP101B‐1703‐15, 4‐Jan‐68
Douglas Skyshark A2D Turbo‐Prop Attack, Naval Fighters #43, Gerry Markgraf,
1997, ISBN0‐942612‐43‐4
Vee’s for Victory, Dan Whitney, Schiffer Military Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0‐7643‐
0561‐1
Douglas XTB2D‐1 Skypirate, Bob Kowalski, Naval Fighters #36, 1996, ISBN 0‐
942612‐36‐1
Elegant Failure, America’s Forgotten Wings, Air Classics Review #1, 1994
Famous Fighters of World War II, William Green, Doubleday, 1975, ISBN 0‐385‐
The First, The Last, and The Only XB‐42/42A/43, Walt Boyne, Airpower Magazine,
12395‐7
Vol. 9, #6, 1979
The Allison Engine Catalog 1915‐2007, Technical Series #8, John. M. Leonard , Rolls
The Douglas XB‐42 Bomber of 1944, Robert F. Dorr, Aviation News, April 1985
Royce Heritage Trust Allison Branch, 2008, ISBN 978‐1‐872922‐38‐6
Design and Development of the XB‐42, Carlos Wood, American Aviation Historical
Wings Magazine, Vol. 24, #3, June 1994
Society Journal, Vol. 47, #3, 2002
Operating Guide Navy Model T40‐A‐10 revised 1 November 1957

U.S. Army Engineering Division Report ENG‐52‐580‐33‐5, 3‐Nov‐1943

NACA XB‐42 model performance reports

A5J12 Aerodynamic characteristics of a 1/8 scale (XB‐42)…

A4K04 Estimated flying qualities of (XB‐42) from 1/8 scale…

L4K09 Investigation of tail‐prop interference (XB‐42) …

The Black Bullet, Terry L. Sunday, Wings Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 6, Dec. 1988

The American Fighter. E. Angellucci, Orion Books, 1985, ISBN 0‐517‐56588‐9

Flight Magazine, www.flightglobal.com

Louis Ferber: http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/ferber.html

Articles by Willliam H. Longyard, E. Charles Vivian, Lt. Cl.

W. Lockwood Marsh, and P. Lissarrague

AC-35
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogiro_AC-35
http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19500086000
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/WatkinsRay/8900.htm

Soviet and Russian Ekranoplans by Sergey Komissarov and Yefim Gordon, Midland
Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978‐857803‐32‐‐7

Ki-64: http://www.ijaafphotos.com/jbwki641.htm

Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, R.J. Francillon, Funk and Wagnalls,
1970, ISBN 74-93941